Ball-pitching machine with forced air assist



N. R. BRUCE BALL-PITCHING MACHINE WITH FORCED AIR ASSIS-T Aug. s, 1969 med Dec. e, 1965' INVENTOR. NORMAN R. BRUCE vFIGJ ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,459,168 BALL-PITCHING MACHINE WITH FORCED AIR ASSIST Norman R. Bruce, 5140 Dobrot Way, Central Point, Greg. 97502 Filed Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 512,380 Int. Cl. A63b 69/ 40, 65/12 U.S. Cl. 124-11 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An improved ball-pitching machine is provided for use, for example, in baseball batting practice. The machine includes a barrel in which a stream of air is created to project the balls through the muzzle end thereof; and the machine also includes a pair of Wheels having their annular surfaces extending into the barrel from opposite sides thereof, to assist in impelling the balls along the barrel, and also to impart various trajectory characteristics to the ball. Inserts may be placed between the wheel and its peripheral band to impart a random rotary motion to the projected ball in order to obtain the various trajectory characteristics.

This invention relates to projectile throwing devices in general and more specifically to a ball-pitching machine adapted particularly for plastic and similar lightweight balls.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ball-pitching machine, particularly for plastic or lightweight types of balls, which are easily damaged by excessive mechanical abrasion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air- `stream to cause a lightweight ball to advance rapidly into moving surface projecting means in order to reduce the shock upon the ball when entering the surface means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide opposed rotating wheels of differing characteristics for throwing a lightweight ball, which diifering characteristics produce erratic rotating effects upon the ball for causing a variety of ball trajectories.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a pitching machine which will mix up its pitches, throwing curves, sliders, fast balls, and other trajectories which closely duplicate actual game experience.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the best mode contemplated -for the present invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan interior view of a ball-pitching mechanism, as seen with the top cover removed;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the ball-pitching machine, with walls and portions broken away to reveal the interior;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of the peripheral rim of one of the drive wheels, greatly enlarged with respect to FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section in enlarged proportion, taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged schematic illustration of a particular drive wheel functional relationship with a soft ball; and

FIGURE `6 illustrates a ball-feeding mechanism on the top of the machine.

The drawing illustrates the principle of inventive concepts in one machine embodiment which is satisfactory for most soft ball purposes. The illustrated embodiment is constructed in a housing 10 having a barrel chute 12 extending from la back wall 14 to a front wall 16. The

lguide through which balls may be projected. In this embodiment, the barrel is composed of a side wall 18 which has a side opening window 20, and a side wall 22 having a side window 24.

Drive wheels 26 and 28 are mounted horizontally within the housing 10 and the periphery of the drive wheels project through the windows 20 and 24 respectively. These peripheral portions of the two wheels act as a throat area within the barrel 12. Each wheel is driven in a direction which causes the periphery of the wheel to enter the back portion of the window and exit from the front portion, thus providing a surface means which advances Within the barrel in the direction of the front of the housing 10.

In FIG. 2, motor 30 is shown as driving the wheel 28 by means of a shaftt 32. A similar drive system is provided to power the wheel 26.

The ball-throwing nature of the present invention embodies the principle of surfaces which act as a throat in which the ball is caused to enter. The throat between the surfaces is less than the diameter of the ball, and hence the ball is grasped by the surfaces and projected along the center line between the two surfaces.

This invention provides a novel drive action in this environment. Refer to the FIGURES 3 and 4. The Wheels 26 and 28 Iare substantially identical in most respects. Both have a rim 34 which is covered by a rubber tread band 36 to give a degree of resiliency. The wheels may be die cast of lightweight metal or molded plastic, depending upon the particular application. The illustrated embodiment may be used for a variety of ball-throwing or pitching purposes. Generally, it is most useful for that type of ball which is somewhat resilient, and finds particular 'utility for pitching or throwing plastic or lightweight balls, rubber balls, plastic-covered baseballs, rubber-covered balls, tennis balls, and softballs. The need 4for such device for practice purposes will be obvious.

The surface of the rubber belt 36 is covered with friction material 38, and one of the most effective of such friction material is a coarse sanding belt. It would appear that a coarse sanding belt would scu and abrade plastic and rubber balls and quickly cause a degeneration of the surface of the ball. However, this invention makes the use of such friction material entirely practical and desirable, and virtually no scuiing or abrading of the balls results. Less positive friction surfaces have ineffective bite on sheer plastic surfaces, lacking positive pickup and spin-imparting ability.

One 0f the features of this invention which rnakes this abrasive belt surface feasible is the use of a moving column of lair advancing at a rapid rate through the barrel in the direction of ball movement. The wheels 26 and 28 carry vanes 40. The vanes 40 pick up a quantity of air and drive it through the barrel and out 0f the front of the housing 10.

The balls are fed by -dropping them into the barrel and against a sloping ramp 42. The sloping ramp causes the balls to bounce forward and start a movement to- Ward the front of the housing. Air vent holes 44, through the rear wall 14, allow the entry of air into the barrel. The forcing of air by the vanes 40 on the wheels acts in a venturi eifect to cause .air to enter the air holes 44 and join that air which is driven into the barrel by the wheels, thereby creating a fast-moving stream of air.

The natural bounce' 0f the ball from the ramp 42, and the enveloping stream of air, provides a transition so smooth that the ball quickly accelerates without appreciable scuff motion between the wheels and the ball as might be expected if a lesser amount of initial propulsion were given to the ball.

The housing 10 has a top Wall 46, through which a breech opening 48 is provided to feed balls vertically 'barrel is no named because it serves as a longitudinalagainst the ramp 42 for the purpose of supply and to cause the forward initial bouncing movement, The barrel 12 opens through the front wall 16 in a muzzle opening 50. Air rushes through the openings 44 and out the muzzle end 50 along with projected balls in order that the balls may be given the initial movement and carried along with the air as the air is also projected. Hence, the ball has the actual physical drive propulsion from the wheels and is carried by a column of air enveloping the ball and carrying it along both prior to and after engagement by the drive wheel.

The drive wheel may be narrow or wide in comparison with the dimensions of the barrel according to the need of the air that is used in this air column action. In FIGURE 2 the wheel dimension is shown as about half of the vertical dimension of the barrel, although wider wheel dimensions are common with the heavier balls, such as tennis balls.

In addition to the novelty of the combination action thus described, this invention provides for giving the ball a definite predetermined whirl in order to provide English on the ball. In FIGURE 5, predomination inserts in the form of lateral rubber inserts 52 fit between the wheel and the band 36 in five or six places. These strips are about 1A x 1/s in cross section and extend for the `width of the rim portion of the wheel.

Most plastic balls on the market are not uniform, and, therefore, must be handled in a manner which will take into account the inherent quality range. If there is too much wheel bite they will be deformed or unnecessarily abraded if the ball is tough. If there is too little wheel bite, there will not be a a sufficient pick-up of the speed in the event the ball is soft.

By adding the inserts 52, a very slight hexagon or gear shape is achieved. This form is confined to one wheel. They are shown in the wheel 28 in the drawing. By using these inserts it is possible to pick up balls of various degrees of toughness and surface sheen with a single wheel setting.

Furthermore, the inserts, by acting on one side of the ball, will give a rotary motion to the ball as it is ejected from the muzzle end 50 of barrel 12 to produce an uncertain trajectory of the ball as it leaves the machine.

The position of the wheel carrying the predomination inserts may be changed if the characteristic of the machine is to be changed. This change may be with another wheel or different peripheral location and number, or may be changed from right to left side of the particular machine, or both variables may be employed.

The inserts 52 must be clearly understood to be a significant portion of this invention. By the use of these inserts 52, a more dependable operation is achieved for several reasons. The throat width in the machine is far less critical, but a more positive bite on moderately dissimilar balls is nevertheless achieved. This feature practically eliminates the re-adjustment for ball variations.

Furthermore, the inserts provide a human quality to the pitching pattern. That is, a right-handed pitcher will throw more of his pitches curving to the left than to the right. The opposite is true of the left-handed pitcher. Therefore, according to whether the wheel carrying the inserts is placed on the right or the left side of the machine, the pitching characteristics of a live pitcher is simulated.

This insert feature coupled with barrel tolerances causes the machine to mix up its pitches. It will throw curves or sliders or fast balls, and other types of pitching styles, which closely duplicate actual game experience. Without these inserts, the machine still will produce the various pitches, but the curves which it will then produce are not overweighted right or left as they should be or would be if thrown by a human pitcher.

This machine keeps a batter on his toes. He does not know what pitch to expect. A pitcher does this, and this is the reason for his effectiveness.

There is no machine 'known prior to this invention that approaches this basic concept. A pitching device which simply throws balls down the groove is, according to most batting instructors, nearly useless. It is safe to say that one of the essences of this machine according to this invention is that it throws a logical variety of pitches in the strike zone.

In order to provide automatic feed of balls, a feed device 54 employs a gear motor 56 which rotates a fork S8 at a predetermined rate of travel. A ramp 6i) may be loaded with balls and they will be impelled toward the face end of the fork 58 by gravity. As the gear motor 56 rotates the fork 58, one ball at a time will be moved sideways as suggested by the series of dotted outline shapes in FIGURE 2, and the ball so ejected from the ramp 60 4will fall through the breech opening 48 into the barrel and thus be expelled out of the front of the pitching machine.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the best mode contemplated, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be afforded the full scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for projecting a plurality of resilient balls in series procession, comprising:

a barrel having a passageway extending therethrough and serving as a longitudinal guide through which the balls may be projected, said barrel having side openings therein extending into said passageway;

a pair of drive wheels mounted adjacent said barrel on opposite sides thereof, and each of said drive wheels having a peripheral portion extending through one of said side openings, the peripheral portions of the drive wheels extending through said openings and into said passageway to form a throat area within said barrel of smaller diameter than the diameter of said passageway;

drive means for said drive for imparting rotational motion thereto in a direction such that said peripheral portions of said drive wheels provide movable surface means within said passageway advancing from the rear of said barrel to the front thereof;

a plurality of vanes on the side surfaces of said wheels and extending to the peripheries thereof so that the ends of said vanes move into said openings in said barrel with said peripheral portions of said drive wheels, said side vanes picking up a quantity of air during rotation of said drive wheels and driving such quantity of air through said passageway and out the front of said barrel;

feed means for dropping balls into the rear of said passageway in said barrel; and

a rear wall at the rear of said barrel and having at least one air vent therein to allow the entry of air into said passageway, said last-mentioned air being drawn through said vent into said passageway by the aforesaid air driven through said passageway by said vanes.

2. The device of claim 1, and which includes a sloping ramp at the rear of said passageway in said barrel and which imparts a natural forward bounce in said passageway to each ball dropped therein by said feed means.

3. The device of claim 1, in which at least one of said wheels has a roughened peripheral surface.

4. The device of claim 1, in which at least one of said wheels has a band around the periphery thereof, and which includes a plurality of lateral ridge members extending under said band for producing surface irregularities therein.

5. A device for projecting a plurality of balls in series procession, comprising:

a barrel having a passageway extending therethrough and serving as a longitudinal guide through which the balls may be projected, said barrel having side openings therein extending into said passageway;

a pair of drive Wheels mounted adjacent said barrel on opposite sides thereof, and each of said drive wheels having a rim extending through a corresponding one of said openings and into said passageway to form a throat area within said barrel of smaller diameter than the diameter of said passageway;

drive means for said drive Wheels for imparting rotational motion thereto in a direction such that said rims of said drive wheels provide movable surface means Within said passageway advancing from the rear of said barrel to the front thereof;

means driving a stream of air through said barrel and out the front thereof; and

at least one of said wheels having a band around the rim thereof, and a plurality of lateral ridge members extending under said band for producing a surface irregularity therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 RICHARD C. BINKHAM, Primary Examiner THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

